Michigan 4-H Celebrates 100th Birthday

4/16/08

Contact: Michelle Lavra
517-432-1555, ext. 156

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- 2008 marks the 100th birthday of 4-H in Michigan.  4-H is Michigan’s largest youth development program, providing young people 5 to 19 years old with a variety of experiences to improve their knowledge and practical skills.
           
The early 4-H clubs focused on programs to introduce new agricultural technology, but over the years 4-H has expanded into urban areas, and the focus today is on the personal growth of members.
           
“This centennial year is all about looking at the future of 4-H in Michigan and its role in helping our state’s youth meet today’s challenges in technology, entrepreneurship, healthy living and community service,” says Cheri Booth, the state 4-H program leader.
           
There are 100th birthday observances planned throughout the year. Activities kicked off with a celebration at a Michigan State University women’s basketball game in January. More than 4,000 fans involved in 4-H or MSU Extension attended the game. Attendees received 4-H birthday bookmarks and mock tattoos, and cheerleaders tossed more than 200 T-shirts to the crowd during the game. Birthday festivities also took place during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Expo in February.
           
A special ice cream is being created by the MSU Dairy Store. The new ice cream, called 4-H Forever, will debut at the 4-H Spring Conference (April 30-May 2). The ice cream also will be available all summer at the main dairy store on campus. Other birthday celebrations will take place during Exploration Days (June 18-20), Ag Expo (July 15-17), the Michigan Dairy Expo (July 22-25), Great Lakes Natural Resource Camp (July 27-August 2), MSU Extension Fall Conference (October 13-16) and Autumn Fest (November 8).  Additional activities are planned by 4-H organizations in various counties.
           
4-H Youth Development is operated in Michigan through a partnership among county governments, Michigan State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This partnership ensures that 4-H activities and programs are backed by the research and knowledge base of a land-grant university and have the support of county, state and federal governments.

Fast Facts about 4-H:

More than 250,000 youth participated in 4-H in the 2007 program year.

Michigan 4-H also involves more than 23,000 adult and youth volunteers, who donate thousands of hours each year to guide and mentor 4-H participants.

4-H youth come from every corner of the state, including big cities, small towns, suburbs and rural communities. There are 4-H programs in all 83 Michigan counties. 

Youth from various ages and grade levels participate in Michigan 4-H, including more than 90,000 third- through fifth-graders, about 40,000 middle schoolers and more than 37,000 high school students.

Program activities include citizenship, environmental education, healthy lifestyles, career development, science and technology.   
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